May 27, 2018



Dear Quashnet School Community,

Memorial Day is here! Every year at this time, I question, where did the year go?  There are only 16.5 schools day left to the 2017-2018 school year.  Please know, every minute and every day counts in school.  Teachers and staff work hard to keep students engaged and learning each day. Reminders at home that these days count would be very helpful.  We are still working to meet learning standards and behavioral expectations are always in place. Next week is our STAR Reading and Math benchmark week.  This is one assessment tool we use to help determine student growth in these two content areas.  It's definitely not summer yet! Let's work to have the strongest end of the school year ever.

Be sure to keep your eye on the calendar.  There are field trips, concerts, and special events coming up.  Here are a few of those special events: 

May 30th- Grade 5 to Boston Tea Party Museum
May 31st - Spring Instrument Concert 6:30 PM
June  1st - Walk of Honor (Graduating Seniors walk QS halls) 9AM
June  2nd - MMHS Graduation 10:00 AM
June  5th - Spring Chorus Concert 6:30 PM
June  6th - Grade 4 to National Seashore
June  6th - Invention Convention Grade 5&6 Participants to Bridgewater State University
June  7th - Grade 6 Field Trip to Museum of Fine Arts (3 classes)
June  7th - LAST DAY FOR THE LATE BUS AND QS CLUBS
June  8th - QS Field Day
June  9th - Grade 6 Music student trip to Boston Pops 
June 11th - QS Field Day Rain Date
June 12th - Grade 6 Field Trip to Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (3 Classes)
June 13th - Grade 3 to Plimoth Plantation
June 13th - Recognition  Awards Grade 5 @9:30 AM and Grade 4 @1:15 PM
June 14th - Cape Cod Special Olympics Day Games 8-1PM at MMHS
June 15th - Recognition Awards  Grade 3 @9:30 AM and Grade 6 @1:15PM
June 18th - Grade 6 BBQ @12PM
June 20th - Last Day for Students - 11:30 AM Dismissal 

We are very fortunate to be able to send our students on field trips to Boston, Cambridge, to the Pops, plus more.  These are learning experiences that students don't forget.  It is important to note that many of our trips are supported by grants and sponsorship.  Mrs. Richards, our art teacher, has been grant funded each year to offset the cost to the Fine Art Museum, the Brownies have supported several students going to Plimoth Plantation through cookie sales, we receive grants from Cape Cod Five, and the PTO has supported multiple trips and events including the recent trip to Harvard Museum of Science in Cambridge, we also used Stop&Shop A+ Program Funds to offset all field trip expenses. Each year, we ask for you to register your Stop&Shop card in the A+ program. There is no charge, Stop&Shop just calculates a percentage of sales and presents us with a check in June.  Last year, we earned over $10,000 and we are on track for the same amount this year.  By doing this we do not have to ask you to buy wrapping paper, cookie dough, etc.  Thank you for participating and please know you make a difference with your support!

Do you know the impact of PTO? Last Wednesday night was the last PTO meeting for this year.  To put the work of these core people into perspective you need to know how this fundraising supports all Quashnet students.  They approved purchasing instructional materials - book kits for Grade 4 to support curriculum units of studies for approximately $500, two new picnic tables were order for the garden area as our old ones were broken and unstable,  the garden club will be getting all new gloves for their work to plant and beautify the school, the cost of the Grade 6 year end BBQ will be covered, the indoor recess cart will be stocked with a variety of new games for the start of the 2018-2019 school year, and they approved new recess equipment at approximately $3500.   WOW!  This does not include the standup desks in classrooms, the Back to School BBQ event, teacher appreciation events, and field trip support.  We are so fortune to have such a supportive PTO and all families who support learning for Quashnet students.  Quashnet School THANKS YOU! 

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE:  We are getting ready this week to move to the next phase of construction. Classrooms currently in temporary rooms will be returning to their classrooms on Thursday. Fifth grade classes, along the outside of the building, will be moving to temporary locations Thursday afternoon.  This is a quick turn around with the help of our custodial staff. The windows look great, we can see out of them, we have screens, and the wood sills have been replaced with Corian. It is looking good!  The summer work will include all bathrooms being brought up to code, and interior classrooms will get their windows. The QS office is working on  packing up for our temporary summer location at KCC, and the Superintendent's office will be relocating for the summer to MMHS.   

Take a look at the great pictures from Career Day on the photo tab above.  Thank you Mrs. MacIntire for organizing a terrific day of learning and fun for students.  Parents and volunteers, we appreciate you taking the time to share your careers and educational pathways. Students were exposed a variety of careers from helicopter pilots, bankers, nurses, law enforcement, fire fighters, EMTs, selectmen, a golf pro, midwife, running coach, network administrator, Naval officer, bank manager, Verizon tech, writer, medical assistant, restaurant owner, and a finance committee member for example. It was a GREAT day! 




Just a reminder that tomorrow, Monday, 5/28, @10AM, Mashpee Memorial Day Ceremony will be at the Community Park on Route 130, Main Street @10 AM. 

Congratulations to our MMHS graduates, 

 the Class of 2018! 

Have a wonderful week ahead,

Mrs. O'Brien